HIV/AIDS: Knowledge and extra marital sexual behaviour of boatmen in Fewa Lake

Abstract

The participants of the Training Workshop on HIV/AIDS and development, which was held in Pokhara under the project "Participatory Planning and Management of HIV/AIDS", decided to conduct a rapid assessment study on HIV/AIDS among the boatmen of Fewa Lake. This descriptive study conducted by using structured questionnaire attempts to explain the knowledge and extra marital sexual behaviour of selected boatmen of the Fewa Lake in Pokhara.

Almost all the boatmen (98%) had heard about HIV/AIDS and the majority of them have had fairly accurate knowledge about its route of transmission except a few, who had some misconceptions about the route of transmission. About 50% of the respondents practice sex outside their marriage and the majority (71%) of them are between 15-35 years of age. Condom use during such sex activities is not known.

In spite of good knowledge about HIV/AIDS, sex practices of boatmen are not free from risk particularly the young boatmen who are most vulnerable.